Save

Heads of Small Russian Towns: Power and Leadership

In: Russian Politics
Authors:
Valeri Ledyaev Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, HSE University Moscow Russia

Search for other papers by Valeri Ledyaev in
Current site
Brill
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5616-9660
and
Alla Chirikova Chief Researcher, Department of Personality Research, Institute of Sociology of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia

Search for other papers by Alla Chirikova in
Current site
Brill
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7980-3150
View More View Less
Download Citation Get Permissions

Access options

Get access to the full article by using one of the access options below.

Institutional Login

Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials

Login via Institution

Purchase

Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

Abstract

Empirical research conducted in four small Russian towns over the period 2011-2015 and 2018-2020, discovered different patterns of power and leadership despite the centralization policy pursued by the federal center. Not all the heads of towns were the most influential figures/leaders in the urban communities, although they have the most significant formal resources of power. Major differences between the heads of the towns were due to the personal factor, support from a team of followers, and relationships with regional authorities. Despite the completion of the “power vertical” down to the municipal level, the patterns of power and leadership of the heads of small towns are dynamic and vary significantly. The most important changes are often caused by change of the heads of towns. Although leaders are unable to completely reverse negative tendencies in the social and economic spheres of local communities, they can mitigate their consequences. Therefore, when difficulties arise, a demand for leadership is formed.

Content Metrics

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 212 151 7
Full Text Views 13 9 0
PDF Views & Downloads 30 25 0